This Week In Island History

Compiled by Sue Maden Week of November 3

The news of 10 and 15 years ago is from theJamestown Press. The news of 100 years ago came from thecollection of the Newport Historical Society.

100 years agoFrom the Newport Journal, Nov. 3, 1911Three duck hunters came to grief early Thursday evening.Messrs Jesse C. Tefft and Rudolph Schade and Captain Ruben Garlick visited Sheffield pond in pursuit of the ducks. Mr.Schade shot one duck and endeavoring to recover it stepped inquicksand and was soon floundering up to his waist.Mr. Tefft started in a skiff to render assistance, but the tidewas falling and he became marooned on a mud flat. After twohours delay, Captain Garlick formed a relief party of one and

rendered assistance, soon extricating Mr. Schade from his perilous position. The two then lent aid to Mr. Tefft and after somehours brought him safely off land. The three returned home inthe small hours of the morning, sadder but wiser sportsmen.The clubhouse on Shoreby Hill is in its new location, whereit will be altered and enlarged to make the new casino.The flags on the ferryboats are at half-mast in honor of IdaLewis.Cedar boughs are being carted across the ferries from Narragansett to Newport to be used for winter protection for tenderplants and flowers on summer estates.75 years agoFrom the Newport Daily News, Nov. 2, 1936[At the Town Council meeting] it was voted that the deedfrom the Casino Land Company conveying to the town all itsinterests to any part of that land bordering on Narragansett Baybe received with thanks.From the Newport Daily News, Nov. 3, 1936A large number of pupils of the Thomas H. Clarke schoolheld a Halloween party at the school Saturday evening, manybeing attired in appropriate costumes. The auditorium was dec-

orated with cornstalks, black catsand other novelties, and a real livewitch stalked about the hall. A ghoststory was told by Miss Clara Lewisof the teaching faculty, and gameswere played, bobbing for apples being the most popular one. Music fordancing was furnished by the teachers. From the Newport Daily News,Nov. 4, 1936The largest vote in its history wasrecorded in Jamestown where 916out of 1,200 went to the polls, andmore than 100 voters awaiting JamesR. Masterson, moderator, whenhe opened the polls at 10 o’clock.(Roosevelt received 357 votes forpresident; Landon, 517; Aiken, 3;Lemke, 17; and Bishop, 3.)50 years agoFrom the Newport Daily News,Nov. 1, 1961The annual Halloween party for

Jamestown children from 12 yearsold and under was sponsored by theJamestown Lions and Rotary Clubsat the recreation center last night.Prizes were given for costumes invarious categories.25 years agoFrom the Newport Daily News,Nov. 4, 1986The Town Council voted Mondayto schedule a special Financial TownMeeting Dec. 8 to consider buyingthe Jamestown Country Club for$2.1 million. (The price includes theclub restaurant and lounge and allequipment.)(Photo caption) Jamestown architect William Burgin recently won anational award for restoration workon old Providence Journal-Bulletinbuilding in downtown Providence.

15 years agoFrom the Jamestown Press,October 31, 1996An amendment to town laws thatallows senior citizens with limitedincomes to defer payment on up to60 percent of their property taxeswas adopted by the Town CouncilMonday night. Council membersvoted unanimously in favor of thenew tax relief program after a nearly hour-long public hearing.The Town Council Monday votedto name the cross-island expresswaythe John C. Eldred Parkway, after thelocal Revolutionary War hero who isfamous for firing a single canon atBritish ships in the East Passage ofNarragansett Bay.

10 years agoFrom the Jamestown Press,Nov. 1, 2001With just a couple of hurdles togo to get $450,000 in federal funds,Jamestown is almost assured of anincreased water supply in comingyears. The U.S. Senate last week approved a request by Sen. Jack Reedfor $450,000 for the installation of apipeline to alleviate water shortageproblems on the island.The Town Buildings and FacilitiesCommittee last week reduced its listof possible new highway barn sitesto four: the sewage treatment plantat Taylor Point, the town offices at44 Southwest Ave., Fort WetherillHill, which is west of the existinghighway barn, and the property adjacent to the town transfer station,Lot 47.Energized by expectations ofsell-out audiences and a history oflocally acclaimed productions, theJamestown Community Theatre isset to open the season’s productionof “Peter Pan” tomorrow at 7:30 atthe community center.At the Oct. 25 meeting of theCharter Review Committee it wasdetermined that the panel could notmake any changes to the annual Financial Town Meeting because themeeting was started by a 1910 statelaw and pre-dated the 1975 towncharter.More than 200 runners and walkers – 86 from Jamestown – participated in last Sunday’s 13th Jack O’Lantern Jog.